Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-09-10
THE UNION BRIDGE.

On another page Is presented Dy MI.
PHILLIP HENRY MOORE-"Cold Short
a comprehensive statement of Wheeling's
situation in regard to railroad facilities.
Mr.. MOORE is well equipped to handle the
subject: be has devoted much of his time
and attention exclusively to the public
discussion Of Wheeling's industries
Hence his opinion on the subject Of the
Union Railrosd Bridge is entitled to seri-
Gus consideration, and must have its weight
with our business men and citizens gener-
ally.
Maniftstly, in the brief space to which
his article is necessarily confined, nothing
but the primary facts OF the case could be
presented. But these are presented 80 sue
cinctly and the deductions so simple, logi-
cal and convincing that their bare presen-
tation cannot help but set our public
spirited citizens TO investigating into the
real necessities of their city and her indus
.ries, to iuquiring whether it is sufficient
10 boom" Wheeling by simply crying
Boom the town. or whether it would
not be better TO have the boom" based
on something more tangible.
Granted that Wheeling is booming, y
her boom is not keeping pace with that
of Pittsburg by long odds. There is one
and only one reason for this which, in q
nutshell, IS that while Pittsburg is in the
centre OF perfect web Of railroads Wheel
ing has but two or three and is only a
switch of the most important one Of these.
And this network OF rOads that encom-
passes Pittsburg is eXtendending surely
and at an ever increasing rate. Already
the smoky City" is reaching down into
Wheeling's territory and taking wealth
from under Wheeling's nose, wealth that
that should he circulating in Wheeling ad-
vancing her prosperity and giving vital
force to Wheeling's boom" This state
of affairs should not be- Nature has dealt
with Wheeling more bOuntifully than she
has with Pittsburg. Wheeling has all the
natural advantages that Pittsburg has
save and except the an-impOrtant one of
Observation-Disclosures With equal
transportation facilities Wheeling's pres
ent manufactures should be doubled.
But aside from manufactures, in many lines
Wheeling can underSell Pittsburg, yet look
at the almost innumerable little towns in
Ohio aud elsewhere that go To Pittsburg
and to Cleveland to buy their goods.
Why Because they cannot get to Wheel
ing. The half dozen railroads, great and
small, that reach these towns all stop
either Just over 10 Bridgeport or Martins
Ferry, or within a few miles of them.
These roads must be brought into
Wheeling before she can make any material
progress in the race with her keen and en-
terprising industrial competitors.
Now for the means of getting them here.
The Union railroad bridge, on the estimate
OF a competent surveyor, would not cost
over $3.50 OUOO. This is a big sum, GER
tainly, but it couli DC divided mp SO that
Wheeling should stand the immediate
brunt of only Onc-tourth of it. This is the
substance Of Mr. MouRE's suggestion; If
anv ons cin present still more feasible
plan the columns Of the REGISTER are open
TO him. Il is only by thorough and ex-
haustiye discussion OF the subject that We
can hit upon the hest plan.
In the meantime let us use the facts We
have presented TO us.